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Warehouse and factory management staff need to proactively plan for how they will accommodate employees who perform physically demanding work in the heat of summer. This is a growing safety concern—numerous employees suffer from heat exhaustion at work each year.

When you’re searching for a quality staffing agency, there’s more to think about than just the price, responsiveness, and quality of recommendations—even though these factors are paramount to achieving overall success.

Your temporary workforce is an important aspect of your business model. If you have peaks and valleys in your business, as many of us do, you may bring on extra associates during your busy times of year.

Many distribution and manufacturing facilities are expressing frustration caused by the shortage of skilled forklift operators in the job market today. In many markets, positions such as forklift and other distribution facility jobs are remaining unfilled due to a lack of qualified candidates to fill those positions. According to data from Indeed.com, “Canada ranked second in the world (after only the US) for jobs going unfilled.”

Are you struggling to find the right talent? Is your recruitment process unnecessarily long and taking a toll on your team? If you’re feeling burned out from endless candidate evaluations and job interviews that lead to dead ends, then keep reading! It could be a sign that you need a staffing agency for a more rapid and streamlined solution. Read on to learn more about the benefits of using a staffing agency.

The Government of Canada plans to legalize recreational marijuana across the country by the Fall of 2018, so we wanted to address some of the concerns in advance. Many employers are wondering how the Canada-wide legalization of recreational marijuana will impact the workplace and jobsite.

Employees who work in cold environments may be at risk for cold stress—and with the Canadian winters we’ve been facing, it’s important for both employers and employees to know the risks and take precautions to reduce the risk of injury.

Are you a budding musician or artist seeking flexible work options to keep your dream job alive? Perhaps you’re seeking a better work-life balance, so you can spend more time with the family. Or maybe you’re looking for a part-time alternative to supplement your studies. Whatever the reason, at some point in your life, you might find yourself pursuing shift work. In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at what exactly shift work is and the main benefits. Read on for more!

The Inuksuk: a beautiful and classic Canadian symbol which traditionally signifies that a traveller is on the right path. We felt this was fitting to represent our “A Better Life Award”, which we created to acknowledge and celebrate the special efforts our associates have made—both at the worksite and in their own personal development.

We’ve all heard that question a thousand times as a child. Some were set on being professional athletes or princesses, while others were determined to fly to the moon one day. What once was a simple question with an imaginative answer, now is often full of anxiety and worry. If you’re plagued with the uncertainty of which career direction you should head in, there are a few things that you can do to help advance the decision-making process.

There are so many reasons as to why you might be looking for work. Maybe you are looking to gain experience in a different field, are moving somewhere new, or perhaps you just need a change! Either way, you should always start off on the right foot and properly prepare yourself. That way, you can easily access important information, provide potential employers with everything they need, and even gain an advantage over the competition.

Let’s look at what you should have prepared before you begin looking for jobs.

On October 22, 2017, two ABL managers will participate in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon for the first time: Hayley Yurgan (Division Manager of ABL Careers) and Jeff Aran (Business Development Manager for ABL Employment/ABL Careers).

Mixing a diverse workforce that consists of temporary employees and regular staff is not as awkward as it has historically been. Integrating temporary workers is important to their level of comfort, their productivity, and how well they interact with their co-workers at the company.

The Ministry of Labour (MOL) regularly visits worksites to conduct Occupational Health and Safety inspections. They recently announced their latest schedule, which shows that they will be conducting safety blitzes again this fall – so it’s important to be prepared!

There’s no doubt about it, life can get pretty overwhelming. That’s why it’s so important to find a proper balance between your work life and home life. Both are equally important. You need to work to live, but at the same time, you shouldn’t live to work. If you’re having trouble balancing work and life effectively, there are a few things that you can implement and change to correct the balance. Not only will you feel more satisfied and at peace, but chances are the quality of both will improve exponentially.

Don’t sell yourself short, getting an interview is much harder than it looks! Now that you have your foot in the door, it’s time to impress your potential future employer. By taking the right steps and preparing for this interview properly, you will give yourself the best chance possible at getting a second interview, or the job itself!

On June 1, 2017, the Ontario government introduced Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017. This bill moving through the process quickly and will probably be passed into law as soon as September/October.

Even mild dehydration can impact work performance especially during the hot summer months. Workers are encouraged to ensure they are well hydrated when working to ensure they are safe and well to maximize performance and avoid accidents. Water is still the number one way to hydrate your body but its only beneficial if you actually CONSUME it! Many of us need alternatives to plain water to ensure our body is hydrated while at work. A little bit of creativity and planning is all it takes.

On June 1, 2017, the Ontario government introduced Bill 148, the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 (Bill 148), as its response to the Final Report from the Changing Workplaces Review. There are several public hearings over the summer and then the bill would proceed through parliamentary process and with royal assent should pass the bill into law (with some minor changes given the Liberal majority) in September and October. If passed, Bill 148 would introduce a range of changes for Ontario companies.

ABL’s Occupational Wellness Manager and staff KNOW that working the night shift or rotational shifts can disrupt the body’s cycles. In order to maximize your production and ability to stay alert during various shifts it is vital that to stay energized by eating the right foods at the right times.

ABL’s Occupational Wellness Manager and staff are committed to ENSURING you are set up for success when working. First Day Soreness is usually experienced during the first week on the job. Muscles soreness does not involve an actual incident and you are just sore and hurt. It is similar to working out and having muscle pain the next day.

Focusing on both physical and mental wellness are closely integrated for work life balance. Following are simple steps everyone can participate in every day. Working helps to provide stability and ability to achieve life goals. ABL Employment supports work-life balance through meaningful job assignments that help meet your goals within your available time schedule.

Most offices have established a business casual dress code to allow employees to work comfortably in the workplace. Yet, you still need to project a professional image. No dress code can cover all contingencies, so employees must exert a certain amount of judgment in their choice of clothing to wear to work.

By following proper ergonomic techniques, productivity can be increased and you will be less fatigued and sore. Office ergonomics is one key to working happy and being healthy in the office. Review these tips to maintain proper postures, adjust your workstation and work safely.

The Day of Mourning (also known as Workers’ Memorial Day) is officially recognized in about 100 countries worldwide. The National Day of Mourning is not only a day to remember and honour those lives lost or injured due to a workplace tragedy, but also a day to renew the commitment to improve health and safety in the workplace and prevent further injuries, illnesses, and deaths.

ABL’s Occupational Wellness Manager and staff are committed to ENSURING our workers can hear what you need to say in order to stay safe. Hearing loss claims can result in non-economic loss compensation awards.

Identifying a good employee is easy, but keeping a good employee is a whole other battle! With the labour market tightening up, and fewer and fewer people to draw from in the talent pool, it’s more important then ever to make sure you keep your preferred Talent happy and motivated.

"Building infrastructure for the future"; "bigger is better"; "running your business by yourself"… these all seem like excellent ideas. But as you know, some of the most successful businesses in the world do a great deal of outsourcing in all aspects of their businesses: It allows them to focus on what they are best at, and allows them to benefit from the experience of leaders in other industries to help them get to where they need to be.

We’ve said it before, and chances are, we’ll say it again. Often, job searching results in you distributing many, many, resumes to different opportunities. Most of the time you don’t even hear back from the employer regarding your resume or the status of an interview. Before you get too discouraged, there are more positive ways of looking for work. A staffing agency can provide you with quick and effective services to help you strengthen your hunt. Here are the top benefits of using a staffing agency while searching for employment!

ABL’s Occupational Wellness Manager and staff KNOW that working the night shift or rotational shifts can disrupt the body’s cycles. Paying attention to what and how much you eat and drink can help you stay alert and perform your best on the job when you’re working a variety of shifts.

Workforce Planning Hamilton has been hard at work diving into what Hamilton’s current labour market looks like! This comprehensive 2017 Employer One Survey includes the A to Z’s on exactly what companies and employees in Hamilton are experiencing.

ABL’s Occupational Wellness Manager and staff are committed to ENSURING our business partners have established safe worksites and work safe guidelines. Safe worksites are everyone’s responsibility to prevent and minimize the risk for accidents and injuries. Slips, trips and falls are usually avoidable yet are very common in the workplace resulting in injuries.

Whether your employees are working in cold storage facilities, outdoors during the heat of summer, or anything in-between, you can help them acclimate to your workplace environment by making sure you set them up for success in your onboarding and training process.

Managing people in the manufacturing or distribution industries is surely comparable to playing a professional sports game: You are constantly under pressure to meet quotas and get the job done. We all know our peak times have arrived because stress levels are high, people are feeling overworked, and they feel like the stress will never end. So how can we as managers keep our cool when it feels like everything is about to fall apart?

Nothing makes a manger's job easier than a happy and productive team of workers. But sometimes it does not always work out that way. When morale goes down, then so do the daily production numbers your team is able to produce. So how can we make sure that we have a happy and productive workforce?

You trust your staffing service to handle important issues such as employee payroll, onboarding, and safety compliance orientation for the temporary staff that they provide you, and these services are part of what you pay for in your bill rate. But how can you be sure these things are happening behind the scenes, since you are not there to see it?

ABL’s Occupational Wellness Manager and staff know the value of diversified work assignments. There are skills that you have or can develop as you enter, stay in and progress in the world of work. Working as part of a team involves commitment, cooperation and accountability. Take advantage of the various opportunities and work environments available through ABL Employment, Careers and Works. Teamwork skills are developed by working together through the evolution of employment and life experiences.

ABL’s Occupational Wellness Manager and staff are committed to ENSURING all of our ABL employees are not only working for business partners that have established safety practices and protocols, but that you are provided with tools and education to work safely.

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of workplace deaths in British Columbia. Winter conditions – such as freezing temperatures, rain, snow, black ice and reduced daylight hours – create additional hazards for occupational drivers, whether they drive a vehicle full time, or just as part of their job.

In winter, it’s especially important that windshield wipers work properly and washer fluid is topped up. Clear your vehicle of ice and snow, including the top of trailers, and check your lights regularly along your route for ice and snow build up. Consider using a fuel treatment product to prevent diesel from gelling. And make sure to always carry an emergency kit.

If you are searching for a job on your own or seeking the help of an employment agency – like ABL Employment- having an updated resume is crucial. Regardless of great work experience or strong references, if your resume isn’t doing you justice then finding a job becomes that much more difficult. Here is a step by step guide to helping you build a great resume.

Good news for job seekers in Canada—especially in British Columbia! To deal with a rising demand for construction and other related jobs, a new committee has been formed with the goal of generating a comprehensive skills training plan for workers. This new training program will open up tons of construction job opportunities. More importantly, however, this boom in the construction market will provide spin-off benefits for the local manufacturing industries that ABL Employment specializes in. This is a positive development for British Columbians and other Canadians looking to work in British Columbia.

Welcome to part 2 of ABL Employment’s advice on how to get the most out of your employment agency! We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: for someone looking for a job, a staffing company can make all the difference—that is, if you know how to properly use one. By taking advantage of the tips provided, you should be able to find a job with an employment agency in no time!

Entrepreneur PJ Ferguson is looking to turn her small business into a mid-sized business and, eventually, to step away from day-to-day operations. But to do that, she’s going to need middle managers who can step up to greater responsibility. That’s why, almost three years ago, the president and owner of ABL Employment Inc., a temp agency operating mainly in southern Ontario, decided to make a serious commitment to training and development.

Staffing companies can offer potential candidates tons of exclusive and rewarding work opportunities. Whether you are placed in a part-time or full-time position, or a temp job or temp-to-hire position, working for an employment agency gives you the opportunity to experience working at and learn more about the organizations within your field of interest.

Finding a job can be tough—especially these days. For job seekers, the help of an employment agency can make all the difference. A staffing company offers tons of advantages for those looking for a job—they can offer you positions in your area of interest, they have access to job postings that aren’t available to the public, and the temporary jobs they fill often turn into full-time positions.

Staffing agencies offer tons of opportunities for great employment experience with competitive pay. Unfortunately, many people miss out on these opportunities because they do not fully understand what exactly an employment agency is. To help you better understand what it is that we do at ABL Employment—a highly-successful temp agency in Hamilton, London, Toronto, Burlington, and British Columbia—we have compiled a list of some of our most frequently asked questions. Through this, we hope you will have a better understanding of what a temp agency is and how searching for work through one can benefit you.

Are you seeking a rewarding job but don’t know where to look? ABL Employment can help! As a locally owned staffing agency, ABL can help you find temp-to-hire jobs in London, Burlington, Hamilton, Toronto and the surrounding areas. We also offer job opportunities in Vancouver and throughout BC. We specialize in general labour jobs, like assembly jobs and packaging jobs, as well as forklift, material handling and warehouse jobs.

It’s not easy to get a job these days—especially if you’re a student or recent graduate. For the majority of university and college students in the process of getting their degree, having a well-paid summer job could make a huge difference financially. Being able to afford to pay for your schooling in full all at once eliminates the need to secure a loan, which could take years to pay off. Even having enough spending money to last an entire year means you won’t be forced to go to your parents for money help—talk about an uncomfortable conversation!

At our staffing agency, ABL Employment, we help individuals who are looking for work find rewarding jobs across Ontario and British Columbia. With head office locations in Hamilton, North York, London, Brampton, Halton and Vancouver, we specialize in connecting hard-working Canadians with industrial and warehouse jobs. Often, these jobs lead to full-time employment, and some of our members even go on to management positions within their placements. With the holidays approaching, though, we have a number of short- to mid-length work assignments available.

Whether you're looking for assembly jobs, forklift jobs, material handling jobs, or general labour jobs, teaming up with a staffing agency delivers numerous benefits. From Vancouver, Toronto, and London, to Burlington, Hamilton, and Halton; jobs are available on a temporary and work-to-hire basis.

A majority of independent consultants--69 percent--say the use of a flexible workforce is a permanent change and not a temporary response to economic conditions, according to a survey released by M Squared Consulting.

It’s no secret the job market is tough. But whether you’ve been unemployed for two months or two years, you can still gain new skills, fill gaps in your resume and network, all the while giving back to your community through volunteering.

Long gone are the days when volunteering meant working in a soup kitchen or taking part in a clothing drive. These days, non-profits need all types of skills from marketing to accounting. Sure you won’t get paid, but the experience you’ll gain can go a long way in landing your next paying job.

Most people spend at least 40 hours a week with their co-workers, so it is significant to have positive relationships with the people around them. According to a 2010 Randstad Work Watch Survey, 66 percent of working adults believe company culture is very important to the success of their organization.

What do fighter pilots in the US Military have in common with successful business leaders everywhere?

They strive for FLAWLESS EXECUTION®.

The concepts Jim Murphy developed and utilized in business and the U.S. Air Force would become known as Flawless Execution®. Applying Flawless Execution's continuous cycle of planning, briefing, executing, and debriefing, he increased his new employer's sales from $5 million to $52 million per year.

Similar to other employers across Canada, ABL Employment is working on reviewing and updating our policies and staff training schedules to ensure compliance with the new requirements coming into law in our regions concerning "Workplace Violence and Harassment / Domestic Violence at the Workplace".

Using a staffing service IS a good idea. But for more than one reason.,A reputable, collaborative staffing company is more than just an "order filler".Here are some of the reasons companies like yours utilize ABL Employment Inc. as their strategic staffing partner:

Struggling to find a job? Well, stress no more! ABL Employment is here to help!

There are a variety of useful tools available to job-seekers today. One of the most efficient tools is a temporary service or staffing agency. The purpose of these organizations is to find jobs for potential employees. The fee for a staffing agency’s services is paid by the client company, so it’s free to register for those who are looking for work. Bonus!

Needs vs Wants:Prioritize what you need and want in an ideal candidate’s skills, experience and availability: there’s a difference. A staffing company like ABL will use this information to make sure you pay for the qualities that are of use to you, instead of quoting you a rate that incorporates qualities you have no use for. Example: if all you need is someone to pack boxes, label and palletise goods, why pay more for someone with forklift experience as well, in the event that you “might need a forklift driver once a month”? On the other hand, if you need a very skilled and versatile person because you have a small team and “everyone needs to do be able to do everything very well”, then you will definitely want to pay more to get the best qualified and versatile candidate you can, and insure they receive a wage that will retain their services ongoing, and not just until the next higher paying job comes up.

1) Needs vs Wants: Decide what you *need* and what you *prefer* in a job description: there’s a difference. When a staffing coordinator considers a group of candidates for a position, they take into consideration everything you’ve said about your skills, experience, work-style preferences and availability. If you put too many restrictions on the kinds of opportunities you will consider, you will get fewer calls because your file will not show up in a data-base search for that kind of work. If you are flexible for shifts, travel area, work duties, or work environments, *say so* in your interview. Alternatively, if you know you will absolutely never say yes to a job paying below X dollars per hour, or a job in a particular kind of environment, *say so*… that way the staffing company doesn’t contact you with things you don’t want to hear about and this saves both parties time.

We’ve all experienced the stress and anxiety that inevitably creeps us on us as a potential job interview approaches. Making sure that you’re thoroughly prepared before the interview can help relieve tension and increase your odds of acing your interview (and potentially scoring your dream job). Here are a few rules of thumb to consider before the big meeting.

Many small business owners believe that only larger businesses can benefit from the services of a staffing company. On the contrary, small businesses can actually profit greatly when they use a staffing company to help with their hiring.

Time-Saving: If you are a small business owner, your schedule is probably jam-packed! You are so busy taking care of all the things that will keep your business running smoothly, that it is difficult to find the time for hiring new employees. When you take advantage of the services offered by ABL Employment, we handle the steps in the hiring process. Because we maintain databases of employees to fill the needs of a variety of clients, we will be able to find you new staff members quickly while you focus on running your business.rbo

The sun came out at the very end of summer this year. With that energy in the air, I thought that I would share some positive headlines in the news right now.

“Stocks jump as Bernanke says economy near recovery”

August 21, 2009 6:45 PM ET (Associated Press)"The recovery signs for workers north of the border are beginning to emerge. You'll probably see a stronger [employment] recovery in Canada just because we're expecting an overall stronger economic recovery," Globe & Mail August 21,2009

Similar to other employers across Ontario, ABL Employment is working on reviewing and updating our policies and staff training schedules, to ensure compliance with the new requirements which come into law with Bill 168 concerning “Workplace Violence and Harassment/ Domestic Violence at the Workplace”.

2011 has thus far been a record-breaking year for ABL and for many of our client companies. All the belt-tightening and streamlining of 2009-2010 is paying off, and ABL has emerged as a lean, mean, staffing machine - ready to take on the new world of a post-recession staffing reality.

Traditionally, the staffing industry is a leading indicator of change in the economic situation. In previous recessions, temporary staff numbers are the first to drop going into slower times. According to latest figures by Stats Can, this hasn’t been the case in this economic downturn. December 2008’s figures indicate that temporary numbers increased in relation to full time positions in Canadian companies.

NEW WESTMINSTER, British Columbia (Canada) July 12th, 2011 - It’s difficult and often discouraging to look for work, no matter the location or years of job experience. Many Canadians are finding themselves knocking on countless doors,only to find many places are in the process of closing down, or not hiring. All across Canada, individuals are struggling to find jobs to suit their skills and lifestyle. ABL Employment Inchas recently opened a new, fully renovated office in Hamilton, Ontario(425 Kenilworth Avenue North,)on June 30th, 2011and is opening another in New Westminster, British Columbia on July 19, 2011 to help job seekers streamline the search by connecting them with companies who are hiring.

Some employers prefer job applicants to complete an application form rather than send in a resume. Application forms allow the company to compare standard information from all candidates. This reduces the risk of discrimination in the short-listing process. In addition, the form acts like a filter. Applicants who would have been happy to spend two minutes forwarding a standard resume may be put off by the thought of spending an hour filling in a standard application form. As a result, candidates who lack commitment and enthusiasm remove themselves from the pool of potential recruits.

Are you on the job search path? Do you have an upcoming interview that is making you nervous? If so, you aren’t alone. Trying to find a new job is hard work and can be intimidating. Even so, it is important to be as prepared as you can be in today’s market. Doing a little research on hiring trends and brushing up on your delivery can only help prepare you.

So you’ve graduated with straight As and you’re ready to rock the working world. There’s only one problem—employers don’t seem to be beating a path to your front door. These dos-and-don’ts will help you

Making a good impression is essential when attending that all-important job interview. Some studies suggest that interviewers form an opinion based on what they see in the first three seconds of meeting you – that doesn’t give you much time to win them round! Follow these steps to ensure you make a good impression at your job interview.

You may know how to dress for friend requests, but dressing for a job interview is an entirely different animal. Your friends won't write you off in less than ten seconds if you forget to wear a shirt or you're rocking your favorite pair of torn jeans, but a job interviewer will. Here are some things you'll need to know if you want to get to the speaking part before they turn you down.

In today’s world, the ability to speak multiple languages can come in handy in just about any line of work. With the increasing Spanish-speaking population in the Canada, businesses have had to make changes in order to cater to non-English speaking customers, resulting in a substantial rise in the demand for individuals fluent in multiple languages.

When you are in the market for a job, it is unlikely the tough interview questions will trick you; the easy ones are the greatest threat to acing the interview. They are troublesome to the job seeker because they seem harmless and simple. There is one question among all others that appears to be a warm-and-fuzzy attempt to get to know you, which causes prospective candidates much grief. It is a cleverly veiled query and can be lethal to your chances if you are unprepared for it.